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Creamy St. Patrick’s Green Pesto Pasta Bake

Creamy St. Patrick’s Green Pesto Pasta Bake - featured image
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A festive, vibrant pasta bake featuring a creamy spinach and basil pesto sauce, gooey mozzarella, and parmesan, perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any cozy family dinner. This dish is easy, adaptable, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser with its bold green color and comforting flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or shells)
  • 4 cups baby spinach, packed
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from about half a lemon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for greasing
  • Optional: toasted pine nuts, extra basil leaves, red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 1-2 minutes less than package directions (about 8 minutes for rigatoni), until just under al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  3. In a blender or food processor, combine baby spinach, basil pesto, ricotta, heavy cream, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Blend until completely smooth and bright green. If too thick, add a splash more cream or milk.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, toss the drained pasta with the green pesto sauce. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan until pasta is evenly coated.
  5. Pour the pasta and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan evenly over the top. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  6. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown at the edges. For extra browning, broil for 1-2 minutes, watching closely.
  7. Let the bake cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, or red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. For dairy-free, substitute plant-based cheeses and cream. Make ahead by assembling and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking. Add extra veggies or protein as desired. For a crispier top, broil briefly at the end. If reheating, add a splash of milk or cream to restore creaminess.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta bake, pesto, St. Patrick's Day, green pasta, vegetarian, casserole, family dinner, easy recipe, festive, mozzarella, ricotta, spinach

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/creamy-st-patricks-green-pesto-pasta-bake-easy-festive-dinner-recipe/